Since the beginning of 2023, Olympic-medal-winning Indian wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and others protested against the then Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Singh and levied allegations of sexual harassment against him. They demanded he get fired from his position. In May, the wrestlers protesting in front of Jantar Mantar were manhandled by the police and dragged on the street, causing nationwide outrage. Several Indian sportspersons stood in support of the wrestlers. Because of the protests, Singh stepped down from his position.
However, Brij Bhushan Singh’s side aide, Sanjay Singh, was recently elected the new President of the Wrestling Federation of India. He defeated former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran by a margin of 40-7. He was Brij Bhushan Singh’s ‘nominee’. It’s almost as if the former WFI chief won the elections, making the wrestlers’ protest go in vain.
In front of the cameras, it was Brij Bhushan Singh who was flashing the victory sign, his neck garlanded with flowers. As celebrations erupted in front of his bungalow near Jantar Mantar, wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat addressed the press and broke down in tears.
“He (Sanjay Singh) is Brij Bhushan’s right-hand man. He is more special to him than his own son. Now that he is president, the coming batch of women wrestlers will also fall prey,” Vinesh Phogat said, quoted Indian Express.
"I quit wrestling": Sakshee Malikkh after ex-chief Brij Bhushan's aide wins poll
🎥: ANI#SakshiMalik #BrijBhushan #WFI pic.twitter.com/XY1BlCI9wI
— NDTV (@ndtv) December 21, 2023
It was then that Sakshi Malik placed her wrestling shoes on the table and announced her retirement.
“I quit wrestling,” she said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Wrestler Sakshi Malik breaks down as she leaves after addressing a press conference.
Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's aide Sanjay Singh has been elected as the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India. pic.twitter.com/Rc85nAkvgy
— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2023
Several people online have been expressing their shock and disappointment at the entire ordeal. Several women asked that if this is the condition of an Olympic-medal-winning athlete, then common women don’t even stand a chance to get their voices heard and have their abusers held accountable.
A country that drums up nationalist pride when our athletes win international medals, but treat them like garbage otherwise.
A country whose citizens call it Bharat 'Mata', but fail to stand up for its women.
A country that suspends its political opposition, but rewards its… pic.twitter.com/39AJCHqWTq— Nikhil Taneja (@tanejamainhoon) December 21, 2023
If she being an Olympic medalist couldn't win the battle against a man who sexual harassed her, you know the situation for common women is far worse in this country. A literal hellhole https://t.co/DwM4OQnk4a
— ' (@Udaariaannn_) December 21, 2023
When Sakshi Malik won the Olympic medal, Indians proudly claimed how much support Indian women get and how proud we are of "our daughter"
And now that the same daughter is actually demanding justice, look at how we are reacting. These replies are a disgrace https://t.co/lKQNt4O3L7— Medusa (@bharatiyamedusa) December 21, 2023
if olympic medalists with evidence and all the media coverage can’t get justice and protection from sexual harassment in this country then there is no hope for ordinary women https://t.co/lGG7FLuUKw
— ivy poison (@divyaassified) December 21, 2023
We now live in times where Dhankar is Jat pride but those who won us medals and laurels are nothing. We have lost our conscience and our silence is complicity. History will never forgive us. https://t.co/x0dhUmQW3n
— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) December 21, 2023
The govt has let our wrestlers down. Sakshi Malik announces her retirement. This is not how it should have ended. Terrible times. https://t.co/y9CGIsm1xU
— Sayema (@_sayema) December 21, 2023
A woman athlete who brought laurels to the country and made the 🇮🇳 proud is forced to quit in tears because of an individual and his aides who are blessed with political patronage. Speaks volumes about beti bachao. @SakshiMalik https://t.co/MOPyvDfn4d
— Smita Sharma (@Smita_Sharma) December 21, 2023
India’s Olympic athlete reduced to tears. A seemingly losing battle against a powerful man accused of sexual harassment by several women athletes. #SakshiMalik https://t.co/zNvuDfuwht
— Gargi Rawat (@GargiRawat) December 21, 2023
India has let its women down again.